North Dakota Prohibit Red or Black Flags Initiative (1920)

North Dakota Prohibit Red or Black Flags Initiative
Election date June 30, 1920
Topic Law enforcement and State flags and symbols
Status Approved
Type Initiated state statute	Origin Citizens

North Dakota Prohibit Red or Black Flags Initiative was on the ballot as an initiated state statute in North Dakota on June 30, 1920. It was approved.

A "yes" vote supported this ballot initiative to:  prohibit public displays of red or black flags, banners, or ensigns with inscriptions opposed to "the United States or State Government or the use of which would tend to occasion a breach of the public peace;" prohibit public displays of other counties' flags, except those of friendly foreign nations; charge violations of the initiative as misdemeanors.

A "no" vote opposed this ballot initiative to: prohibit public displays of red or black flags, banners, or ensigns with inscriptions opposed to "the United States or State Government or the use of which would tend to occasion a breach of the public peace;" prohibit public displays of other counties' flags, except those of friendly foreign nations; charge violations of the initiative as misdemeanors.

Aftermath

In 1981, the North Dakota State Legislature voted to repeal the provision prohibiting red and black flags. The bill did not repeal language about the flags of other counties.

Election results

North Dakota Prohibit Red or Black Flags Initiative
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		74,634	64.54%
No		41,009	35.46%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Prohibit Red or Black Flags Initiative was as follows:

“

ANTI-RED FLAG BILL An act regulating the display of flags, ensigns, banners and standards within the State of North Dakota; making the display of said flags, ensigns, banners and standards a misdemeanor and providing a penalty therefor. Provides that no flag other than the national flag, or a state flag, or the friendly flags of foreign nations, shall be carried in parade on any thoroughfare in the state, or exhibited in any public place, or on any vehicle, or building, or in any public manner. Prohibits displaying in any parade or exhibition, in any public place or upon any vehicle or building, any red flag or black flag banner, or ensign, having upon it any inscription opposed to the United States or State Government or the use of which would tend to occasion a breach of the public peace.  Makes the violation of the act a misdemeanor punishable by thirty days imprisonment or one hundred dollar fine, or both.

”

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing the initiative process in North Dakota

The ballot measure was an initiated state statute. Proponents collected signatures to place the initiative on the ballot.

See also

1920 Measures

• 1920 Measures
• State flags and symbols on the ballot
• Law enforcement on the ballot
• 1920 legislative sessions

North Dakota

• North Dakota ballot measures
• North Dakota ballot measure laws

News and analysis

• Ballot measure lawsuits
• Ballot measure readability
• Ballot measure polls